Health’n safety played just about a zero role when ‘Victory’ was built, as you would expect. Indeed, even a century later, during the building of ‘Titanic’ in the Harland and Wolff yard, 12 shipbuilders lost their lives. Which was considered a good result. When you see pictures of those men at work in shipyards across Britain, that’s no surprise, with “safety” gear consisting of a flat cap, muffler and (presumably) stout boots. Often accessorized with imperturbable puffing on pipes. Foremen had the luxury of (equally non-protecting) bowler hats. All involved balancing on foot-wide planks, often lashed to Scotch pines. With ‘Victory’s lower mainmast, another H & S no-no, and a big one too: red lead. Excellent paint for warding off rust – and as toxic as it gets. NMRN conservators will no doubt be decked out like moon landing crews.
RED LEAD
21 July 2022
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About Rob
Rob is a TV producer, reporter and camera operator with 30 years’ experience at the BBC, Channel 4 and ITN, in news, factual and documentary production. He is a four times award winner, whose awards include a coveted Royal Television Society award for his work on Channel 4 News. His association with The Maritime Foundation goes back to 1995, when he won the first Desmond Wettern Maritime Media Award for a series of reports that led to a major documentary on the loss of the bulk carrier Derbyshire.